Chrysanthemum plant named Honey Monterey

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Honey Monterey particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 76 to 89 mm when fully opened, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum; photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 54 to 61 days; plant height, with 14 to 17 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings, and with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 18 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot; branching pattern is semi-spreading, each plant having 3 to 5 laterals after pinch; and recommended as spray pot mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Honey Monterey.

Honey Monterey, identified as 5753 (86-420A02), is a product of amutation induction program.

Honey Monterey was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg onFeb. 21, 1991 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. incomparative flower trials of selections of radiation sports originatingfrom irradiation of the cultivar identified as Monterey, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,753 and described as a spray pot mum with a flatcapitulum form; a daisy capitulum type; a soft lavender pink ray floretcolor; diameter across face of capitulum of 83 to 95 mm when fullyopened; flowering response period of 52 to 60 days after start of shortdays; plant height of 18 to 30 cm when grown as a pinched spray pot mumwith 15 to 18 long days after sticking unrooted cuttings prior to startof short days with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP; andsemi-spreading branching pattern, with 3 to 5 laterals after pinch. Oneselection in these comparative flower trials was identified by the codenumber 4196, which was selected in June 1990 as one flowering plantwithin a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stockplants of Monterey which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to anX-ray source of 1750 rads in Fort Myers, Fla., on Dec. 14, 1989.Repeated flowerings of code 4196 showed a mixture of plants withdifferent ray floret color. One plant with a honey-bronze ray floretcolor was selected on Feb. 21, 1991 and given the code number 5753(86-420A02), and subsequently the cultivar name Honey Monterey.

The irradiation program resulting in code 4196 and ultimately in HoneyMonterey had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges ofthe parent cultivar Monterey. The irradiation program comprisedirradiating cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 612 cuttings harvested from a total of150 irradiated plants were planted on Apr. 23 and Apr. 16, 1990. Ofthese, 5 initial selections were made, which selections were thenrevegetated and reflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted indiscarding 4 of the original 5 selections on Mar. 13, 1991. The oneremaining selection, 4196, was reselected as 5753. 4196 was subsequentlydiscarded on Apr. 1, 1991, while the decision was made to introduce 5753as Honey Monterey.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Honey Monterey was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the reselected selection in May1991 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Honey Monterey are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Honey Monterey has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Honey Monterey, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Yellow-orange ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 76 to 89 mm when fully opened,when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Photoperiodic flowering response to short days of 54 to 61 days.

6. Plant height, with 14 to 17 long days after sticking unrootedcuttings and with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, ranges from 18to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is semi-spreading, each plant having 3 to 5laterals after pinch.

8. Recommended as spray pot mum.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a side view of a potted mum ofHoney Monterey, with 4 cuttings in a 15 cm pot, with the colors being asnearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Honey Monterey is the parent cultivar Monterey. Mosttraits of Honey Monterey are similar to those of Monterey, except forthe ray floret color, flowering response to short days and diameter ofcapitulum. Monterey has a soft lavender pink ray floret color, whileHoney Monterey has an yellow-orange ray floret color. In addition,flowering response time to short days of Honey Monterey has beenobserved to be one to two days slower than Monterey in several floweringtrials. The diameter of capitulum of Honey Monterey is 3 to 7 mm smallerthan the diameter of capitulum of Monterey.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onOct. 29, 1992.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Honey Monterey.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--76 to 89 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of threemeters).--Yellow-orange.

Color (upper surface).--Closest to 17C.

Color (under surface).--Closest to 17D.

Shape.--Straight, pointed, slightly ribbed. Apex slightly indented.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--12A.

Color (immature).--144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--18 to 25 cm when grown as a pinched pot mum with 14 to 17 longdays prior to start of short days, with 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppmB-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading, with 3 to 5 laterals after pinch.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, slightly serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Honey Monterey,as described and illustrated.